No Freedom of Speech in France

My major problem with the idea of hate speech laws is that they are used to silence unpopular or uncomfortable opinions. I understand that freedom of speech cannot be absolute (with exceptions such as defamation, slander, direct incitement to violence); but these laws go far beyond these common sense exceptions. Hate speech laws punish thought not actions and therefore should have no place in a liberal democracy.

Here is an example of the use of hate speech laws from France. Story from the Australian.

FRANCE'S 1960s screen icon Brigitte Bardot has received a 15,000 euros ($24,440) fine today for inciting hatred against Muslims.

In December 2006, the film star-turned-animal rights activist wrote a letter to France's then interior minister, current President Nicolas Sarkozy, arguing that Muslims should stun animals before slaughtering them during the Aid al-Kabir holiday.

She outraged anti-racist groups by saying: "I've had enough of being led by the nose by this whole population which is destroying us, (and) destroying our country by imposing their ways.''

Ms Bardot, now 73 and suffering from arthritis, was absent from today's court hearing in Paris.

She wrote to the court saying: "I'm sickened by how (these organisations) are harassing me.''

"I will not shut up until stunning is carried out on animals before their ritual slaughter."

This is an example of a government having too much power over its citizens. People should be allowed to hold uncomfortable or unpopular opinions, and no government should be allowed to tell its citizens what to think. Punishing speech similar to the statements in the above article is a clear attempt by a government to tell its citizens how to think through its laws. Wouldn't Voltaire be proud.

And this shows how Europe no longer upholds the ideal of freedom of speech. Because of that, I'm glad I live in a country that enshrines freedom of speech in its very Constitution and actually upholds that freedom of speech. Europe no longer does.

The United States does have hate crimes laws in which sentences can be increased if a person committed a crime motivated by racism, etc. I don't agree with hate crimes laws either, but it's certainly better than the ridiculous hate speech laws rampant in Europe. At least in the United States you can't be punished for thought or speech alone. I hope it stays that way.

(Hat tip: JammieWearingFool)